Happy Anniversary St Peters!
0 comments | Posted by Steven Layson on 08 Jun 2008 in From Steve's Study ::
Today we celebrate the 56th anniversary of our church here at St Peters. As we look back we give thanks to God for the many blessings he has bestowed upon us. We praise him for the many lives that have been changed for eternity through the ministry of this church. We thank him for the faithful ministry of so many people, rectors, assistant ministers, youth workers, children’s workers, bible study leaders, pastoral carers, musicians, meal providers, visitors and encouragers that God has provided for the good of the people of East Lindfield.
It is important to look back and give thanks for these people and blessings, acknowledging that all good things come to us from our heavenly Father.
However, it is just as important for us to not continue to live in the past (or even long for a restoration of past glories), but rather to look forward to see what God has in store for us in the future.
As our motto reminds us, we need to continue to look “Upward” to our God – to seek as individuals, & as a body of believers, always to grow in our knowledge and love of God. How will God change you as a believer over the next few years? What parts of your own Christian walk could be improved or refined? How can we as a church more appropriately give God the honour that is due to him? How will God change us in the years to come?
We also need to continue to look “Inward” as we care and support one another. Are we adequately caring for the needs of the members of our family here? Are there people that “slip through the cracks” & feel ostracised or abandoned? What new needs will arise in our church over the coming years, & how will we address them?
And finally, we must never neglect to look “Outward”, beyond the grounds of our church to the community and world that surrounds us. St Peters has an incredible history of support for overseas mission (& long may it continue), but “Connect 09” is prompting us to think again about how intentional we are about creating new relationships in our area for the sake of the gospel. Who are the people in our area that God will bring to himself over the next few years? How can we make meaningful contact with people in such a way that they will be drawn to the message of Jesus?
So today, let’s celebrate the past, giving thanks to God for his goodness towards us, but let’s also move forward together in prayerful dependence on that same God, with eager anticipation of what he is yet to do.
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